Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'puissant'

English Word: puissant

Key Russian Translations:

• мощный /ˈmoʂ.nɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• сильный /ˈsʲil.nɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday contexts]
• влиятельный /vlʲɪˈjatʲlʲ.nɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Often in political or social contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in literature, news, and formal discussions, but not in casual everyday speech.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contexts, varying slightly by translation—e.g., 'мощный' might be B1, while 'влиятельный' could lean toward B2 due to nuanced usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мощный: /ˈmoʂ.nɨj/ (The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' as in 'fresh', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

сильный: /ˈsʲil.nɨj/ (The 'сь' indicates a soft 's' followed by 'i', similar to 'sy' in 'syrup', but with a Russian palatalization.)

влиятельный: /vlʲɪˈjatʲlʲ.nɨj/ (Note on влиятельный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sounds, which are lighter than in English.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Powerful or mighty, often referring to physical or abstract strength.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мощный - Used in contexts describing overwhelming power, such as machinery or forces (e.g., in military or engineering discussions).
• сильный - Applied to personal strength or intensity, in more everyday or informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина обладает мощным двигателем, который позволяет ей развивать высокую скорость.

  This machine has a puissant engine that allows it to reach high speeds.

• Сильный лидер может изменить ход истории, как это сделал Петр Великий.

  A puissant leader can change the course of history, as Peter the Great did.

• Мощный ураган обрушился на побережье, вызвав значительные разрушения.

  A puissant hurricane struck the coast, causing significant damage.

• Влиятельный политик использовал свой сильный характер, чтобы повлиять на решения правительства.

  A puissant politician used his strong character to influence government decisions.

• Сильный ветер сделал полет самолета весьма turbulentным, но мощный двигатель справился.

  The puissant wind made the plane's flight quite turbulent, but the powerful engine handled it.

Meaning 2: Influential or authoritative, especially in social or political contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• влиятельный - Best for contexts involving power through influence, such as in diplomacy or business.
• мощный - Less common here, but can imply authoritative strength in formal writing.

Usage Examples:

• Влиятельный бизнесмен оказал мощное влияние на экономику страны.

  The puissant businessman exerted a powerful influence on the country's economy.

• Ее влиятельные связи сделали ее сильным игроком в мире политики.

  Her puissant connections made her a strong player in the world of politics.

• Мощный оратор использовал влиятельные аргументы, чтобы убедить аудиторию.

  The puissant speaker used influential arguments to convince the audience.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard first-declension patterns for adjectives, with some irregularities in spelling.

Note: These adjectives do not change in predicative position (e.g., "Он мощный" remains unchanged).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • могучий (moguchiy) - More poetic, often used for mythical or grand strength.
  • сильный (as above, but can overlap).
  • могущественный (mogushchestvennyy) - Emphasizes supreme power, with subtle differences in formality.
• Antonyms:
  • слабый (slabyy) - Weak, directly opposite in physical contexts.
  • бессильный (bessil'nyy) - Powerless, especially in influential scenarios.

Related Phrases:

• Мощная сила (Moshchnaya sila) - Meaning: Overwhelming force or power, often in a literal sense like natural disasters.
• Влиятельные круги (Vliyatel'nyye krugi) - Meaning: Influential circles, referring to elite networks in society or politics.
• Сильный удар (Sil'nyy udar) - Meaning: A powerful blow, used in sports or combat contexts.
• Мощный импульс (Moshchnyy impuls) - Meaning: A puissant impulse, as in physics or motivation.

Usage Notes:

'Puissant' corresponds most closely to 'мощный' in contexts of raw power, but 'влиятельный' is better for authoritative influence, similar to English 'influential'. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case (e.g., use 'мощная' for feminine nouns). In formal writing, prefer 'мощный' over 'сильный' for a more elevated tone. When choosing between translations, consider the context—'сильный' is versatile for everyday use, while 'влиятельный' suits professional or historical discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'сильный' interchangeably with 'мощный' without considering intensity. Incorrect: "Сильный машина" (grammatical error; should agree: "Сильная машина"). Correct: "Мощная машина". Explanation: 'Мощный' implies greater power, and adjectives must agree with the noun's gender.
• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective in sentences. Incorrect: "Извлекать влиятельный" (wrong case). Correct: "Извлекать влиятельного" in genitive. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, leading to unnatural phrasing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'мощный' often evoke historical contexts, such as the power of the Soviet era or figures like Ivan the Terrible, symbolizing unyielding strength. 'Влиятельный' might relate to the intricate networks in Russian politics, reflecting a society where influence is key, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• сила (sila) - Force or strength.
• власть (vlast') - Authority or power.
• доминирование (dominiravaniye) - Domination.